houden

Houden is a common Dutch verb with a wide range of meanings centered on the idea of keeping, supporting, or holding something. In everyday use it covers physical holding, keeping in a certain state, and more abstract senses such as liking something, adhering to rules, or considering someone a certain way. The verb is highly versatile and appears in numerous fixed expressions.

In its most concrete sense, houden means to hold or grip something physically. For example: Ik houd het touw stevig vast (I hold the rope firmly). It is also used to mean keeping or maintaining something: We houden ons kantoor netjes (We keep our office neat) or Houd de deur open (Keep the door open). In other uses, houden is extended with prepositions to express more complex ideas, such as rekening houden met iemand of iets (to take someone or something into account).

Another important meaning is to like or love something or someone, expressed with houden van: Ik houd van muziek. Zij houdt veel van haar familie. The verb also appears in phrases that express beliefs or evaluations, such as houden voor: Ik houd hem voor een betrouwbare vriend (I regard him as a reliable friend).

Other common collocations include vasthouden (to hold fast or to continue holding), vast houden aan principes (to stick to one’s principles), and rekening houden met kosten (to consider the costs). Hold-over meanings exist in passive and perfect constructions, with het voltooid deelwoord gehouden and the auxiliary hebben in tenses: ik heb gehouden.

Etymologically, houden is of Germanic origin and cognate with Dutch halten, German halten, and English hold, reflecting its long-standing role in signaling physical action and abstract keeping or maintaining.

Conjugation (present indicative forms): ik houd, jij houdt, hij houdt, wij houden, jullie houden, zij houden. Past tense: hield, hielden. Participle: gehouden. Imperative: houd! houdt!